Northside Hospital-Forsyth Offers Advanced Neonatal Care

Posted on: January 20, 2014

Northside Hospital-Forsyth now offers Level-III neonatal intensive care
services at its Women’s Center in Cumming. The new designation by
Georgia’s Department of Community Health allows Northside
Hospital-Forsyth to establish a four-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
(NICU), in addition to its existing 17-bed Neonatal Intermediate Care
Unit, or Level-II unit. Most importantly, it allows high-acuity
babies to remain at Northside Hospital-Forsyth rather than be
transferred to Northside Hospital in Atlanta to receive Level-III NICU
care.

Northside Hospital-Forsyth opened its Women’s Center in August 2008,
bringing maternity and newborn services to Forsyth County for the first
time in more than 25 years. In that time, the Women’s Center’s
growth has been exceptional, far surpassing all projections.
Nearly 12,000 babies have been born at Northside Hospital-Forsyth so
far.

When babies arrive early and unexpectedly, they often require extra
special care and Northside’s special care nurseries in Atlanta, Cherokee
and Forsyth have been the first home to thousands of babies.
Between 2008 and 2013, more than 60 high-acuity babies were born at
Northside Hospital-Forsyth and had to be transferred to Northside
Hospital in Atlanta for Level-III care. A Level-III NICU
designation allows Northside Hospital-Forsyth to care for babies born
before 32-weeks gestation and at weights of less than 3.4 pounds.

“At Northside Hospital-Forsyth, we are committed to providing the
highest level of care and support for all newborns,” said Skip Putnam,
CEO, Northside Hospital-Forsyth. “This new Level-III designation
enables us to give them the very best chance at life and one with fewer
long-term complications.”

“Our Women’s Center is staffed with experienced neonatal intensive care
nurses, perinatalogists, neonatologists and several pediatric
specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology and ophthalmology,” said
Melissa Sugg, manager, Northside Hospital-Forsyth Women’s Center.
“Our specialized team of caregivers couldn’t be happier to finally be
able to provide the highest level and quality of care for our
community’s most vulnerable patients.”

Northside Hospital-Forsyth’s Women’s Center has 24/7 neonatologist coverage and
a neonatal resuscitation team that attends all high-risk births and performs
lifesaving procedures when necessary. The hospital’s multidisciplinary
staff provides the latest research-based practice with compassionate patient
care, education and support to meet the individual needs and values of our
families.

“Northside Hospital’s Level-III NICU in Atlanta is one of the largest in the
country and the delivery of expert care is unsurpassed,” Putnam added.
“Many of the nurses, physicians and other clinical staff in our Women’s Center
were part of that successful program before bringing their knowledge and
expertise to Northside Hospital-Forsyth.”

In addition to expanding its neonatal services, this spring, Northside
Hospital-Forsyth plans to open a new four-story, 100,000-square-foot medical
office building (MOB), adjacent to the south side of the Women’s Center.
The MOB will house a variety of physician specialties and practices to support
the Women’s Center.